Police: Wyckoff man steals, sells grandmother's car for heroin

WYCKOFF — A 22-year-old township man was arrested for stealing his grandmother’s car and selling it for cash and heroin, police said.

Arthur J. Garlick stole his grandmother’s 1999 Lincoln town car from the Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church parking lot on June 3, Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox said in a press release Tuesday. At the time of theft, Garlick’s grandmother had been inside the church serving as a poll worker for the primary elections.

Police recovered the car in Paterson a week later and arrested a Paterson man for possession of stolen property. After interviewing that man in jail, Wyckoff detectives were led to Garlick, Fox said.

Garlick, who lives with his grandmother, admitted he had stolen the car after getting an extra set of keys, police said.

He sold it in Paterson for $200 in cash and $150 worth of heroin, Fox said.

Garlick was released on his own recognizance and charged with third-degree auto theft, Fox said.

Fox said the crime underscores North Jersey’s heroin addiction problem.

“Sadly, persons addicted will let nothing stand in their way to obtain heroin; even thefts from family members,” Fox said.